Locking means for flexible chutes



Sept. 21, 1948. R` E, HOLMES 2,449,849

' LOCKING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLEVCHUTES Filed June 1.2i 1945 s sheets-sheet1 [NVE/vra@ W Poseer E. HOLMES Hmm/5, K/scf-f, f'asm? Haw/s fbi? 7215Fie/w AR. E. HOLMES LOCKING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE CHUTES sept. 21, 194s.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June i 12, 1945 IN VEN 'ro/2 Fass/27 I HoL M55 YFae 7111s HeM' Sept. 21, 1948. R. E. HOLMES LOCKING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLECHUTES Filed June 12,. 1945 s t 5m. E s h W S .W L Hm .M T v wf m 2N: /A@.ZNP H... ,W yf.: c, w www. M M. WH M.. ,n .n u

Patented Sept. 21, 1.948L

UMTED? Tl OFFICE 1 l 2,445,849. ,y l LOCKING S" FOR FLEXIBLE CHUTESRobertV Holmes,... Los Angeles, Calif., assgnon l toiHugfl'iesAToulCompany;- Houston, Tex. av corporation of;Delaware i p ApplicationJunellZ, 1945, Serial No. .599,111

My invention relatesto a ficxible or expansible 1.3 claims; (01.193,25)

e or limit its movement relative to an adjacent unit at the pointofconnection.

Another object is to provide a locking member of this-typel which issimple, inexpensive, and easilyinserted"` at the selected lockingposition Without the use of specialtools, and whichis positivelyretained jin position to prevent withdrawal dueto vibration oraccidental contact.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a locking memberattachable to the chute to engagethe interlinkage means betweentransverse units; a locking member havinga locking portion insertable`through the usual uncoupling opening of a chute toengage the interto amachine gun er cannon froman` ammuninon box, though-it should be clearmarit isnot limited thereto.

The articulated structures orffed ol'iutesto which the invention isparticularly; applicable-are those having a plurality of interlinked'units'fexe tending transversely of and outlining arnember guidingpassage, thelinterlinking permitting limited expansive and compressiverelativefniovement of the units at diiere'nt positions around themember-guiding passage. Oneof theimportant objects of the inventioniseto provideior the locking Yof adjacent units rata-selected positionor positions. i

One conventional.' interlinkage means? ofsuch articulated feedchutescomprises a link meins ber on each transverse unit linked withla'hook member on an adjacent transverse unit' and prermitting andguiding movement"oftheunits'toyward and away from eachother, hookliinfiting the separation of the units, Furthentlie transverse units `areconstructed identically,4 each with aplurality of link `mel'nbers and"`hooksso that the chute vcan be assembled ofsuch units, the link andhook members interlocking; upon assembly. On the other hand, means is`usually provided for disconnectingthe.units `topernvoit inspection `orrepair or replacement 'of `individual units. This is conventionally.accomplishedxtby providingan uncoupling opening givingaccessto the hookmember and/or the link membertc .un-4 lock the linkage by temporarydeformationeot one or both ofthese members.

It is an object of thefinvention to aprovide "ai locking memberdetachably connectable to.: a` chute formed of V:interlinked transverse4, units to rigidify thechute Vat the pointoftconnection linkage meansina manner to prevent or limit collapsinguand/or expanding. of transverseunits adjacent the locking member; a locking member having an Yattachment portion detachably connectable tothe chute and a lockingportion insertable through an uncouplingopening of the chute; andalocking member insertable to extendlinto the normal path of movementofthe link member-.to impede such movement.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those. skilled in theart from the. following description` of `exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aplanzview, partially. `in section, fof a segment of one `formof 'articulated ammunition chute flexedin its longitudinal plane,showing placement of two locking members to rigidify a portion of 4thissegment; 4

Fig.. 2 is a side view, taken asindicated bythe arrow 2 oilEig.` 1;`

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3&-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side view of` the same form ofchute flexed laterally,showing `placement of twolocking members in the bottom of the) chute torigid ify the adjacent portions;

Fig.` 5 is a bottomv fragmentary view, taken as indicated `by the arrow5 of Fig., 4; i

Fig. 6 'is a perspective viewof a locking mem.- :ber for this form ofchute;

Figrl is a perspectivefragmentaryyiew of the same form of chute,partially broken away to show internal ocnstructional features, withonelockingr member in placeand ,another `inlposition preparatorytoinsertion;`

' Fig.-8is a perspectivefview` .oa segmentzof another formyof chute withtwolocking `members of different construction in sposition;

Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of a locking member for the formyofichuteshown in Fig. 8;y

\ Fig,` 10.is,a..fragmentary.perspective viewuof` The particular formsof chutes herein-disclosed'- are not, per se, a part of the presentinvention.

The form shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and 10 to 12, inclu- I 'gagerrient atthis point.

sive, is disclosed in detail in copending applicationv Serial No.535,476, entitled Flexible feed chute, and will not be described ingreat detail in the instant application as the following brief descrip-`tion, taken with the accompanying drawings, will suiiice to show themode of connection and utility of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figs, 1 yto 7, the chute is made up ofidentical transverse `units IQ pressed together serially to form amember-guiding passagell, and expansibly and contractably linked by aninterlinkage means l2. Each transverse unit includes a frame l5 formedoi wire bent with abutting ends to form two parallel base wires i6 withoffsets Il, two parallel side wires i8 at each end of the base wires,and two parallel top wires i9 extending inward from the side wires I8 oneach side and connected'by a curved segment 2D, the'curved segments'Z oneach side being spaced to form a longitudinal `opening 2l along thechute giving access to the passage ll.

Each transverse unit includes, also, two U- .shaped attachment members25, respectively disposed withinV the sidewardly-spaced U-shapedportions of the frame i5. These attachment members serve the dualpurpose ofv retaining,

properly spaced, the paired wires 16,'l; i8, I8; i9, i9, and ofretaining the interlinkage means l2 corresponding to this transverseunit; For the former purpose, each attachment member is formed with tabs2l which'are bent outward and thenceinward around the adjacent portionsof the wire of the frame to encircle and embrace these portions. Thereis thus formed along all external `faces of the transverse' unit ashallow channel 28 bounded by tab-formed or wire-formed walls 29, seeparticularly Figs. 2 and 7; The encirclement oieach tab, relative to itslembraced wire, may be complete oripartial.` In the former instance, theend of the tab will engage the outer surface of the attachment member,but will preferably follow the periphery of the wire even to the end ofthe tab, whereby the shallow channel 28 will be bounded, at its sidesandfnear its' bottom, by inwardly-diverging walls which may be used toretain the locking memberof the invention in place, as will be laterdescribed. In the latter instance, the end ofthe tab may terminate ashort distancefrom the outer surface of the attachment member to providea small space between such outer surface and the end of the tab forreceiving the locking member of the invention. y l

The interlinkage means includes, on each attachment 25 of eachtransverse unit, a link means or eye means in the form of a plurality orlink members 30, each comprising two arms 3l and an end bar 32, bestshown in perspective in Fig. 7, along with a mating hook means, shown ascomprising a corresponding number of hook members 35 positioned toengage the link members of an adjacent transverse unit. As best shownnear the to permit the latter to clear the cavity of the former, thusreleasing the motion-limiting en- Minimum spacing of anyItwo` transverseunits is determined by engageme'nt of their wire-encircling tabs 2l.During -movementtoward such minimum-spaced or collapsed position, thelink member slides Very near or in surface contact with the interiorsurface of the 'attachment member of the adjacent transverse unit.

Vllach `transverse unit includes also a U-shaped guide member 38 withineach attachment member and suitably secured thereto, as by spot welding,to form a lining therefor. The upper and lower portions of .each`U-shaped guide member are offset to provide lands 39, see Fig. 3,beneath which are link-member-receiving cavities Ylll vwithin which arethe hook members 35. Extending from the upper, side, and lower portionsof each guide member tofunderlie the three corresponding link membersA3i). are three extensions ortongues 42. The tongues of adjacentytransverse units slidably overlap at all times during relative movementof the units and form an articulated lining for the member-guidingpassage l I serving to engage the belted or linked ammunition, suggestedin dotted lines in Fig. 3. n'

. 'Such a structure interconnects adjacent transverse units forindependent but limited movement at several positions around theperiphery of the chute passage Il. The chute can' be collapsed orexpanded longitudinally; flexed longitudinally in vvthe central plane ofthe chute passage I l; flexed laterally so that the central plane of thepassage is concentric with an axis above or below the passage; flexedabout the longitudinal axis of the passage (due to the flexibility ofthe transverse units and the interlinkage means) or twisted into variousgeometric or sinuous patterns. These chutes are usually designed toprevent any sharp-ness of turn which cannot be readily followed by theammunition belt or other flexible member vkwithout binding.

It is often desirable to lock some section of the chuteagainst expansion`or contraction, e. g., to lockone peripheral portion of the chute at aselectedpositlon to give the chute a predetermined curve at?. suchposition. The present invention includes a ,simple locking memberattachable to the chute at 4such selected position to hold the adjacentinterlinkage means either fully expanded or fullyc'ontracted. Thespacing of any two ad.- jacent transverse units, at one or allA of thep0- sitions around the periphery of the chute passage, can thus bepredetermined or fixed and the chute can ybe rigidied at selectedlongitudinal or peripheral positions.

. Fig.'..6 shows one form of locking member, indicated generally by thenumeral 5G, for the chute construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7. Itrincludes a plate-like, chute-engaging attachment portion 5| of a widthto be pressed snugly into the shallow peripheral channel 28 infrictional engagement withy the .walls 29, e. g., theinwardly-converging walls .provided near the bottom of the channel bythebent tab'sxor bythe wires.. Alternatively; it can extend into the smallspace, previouslynescribed, between the outer surface of the attachmentmember and the innermostend of `.the bent tab to be locked in place.`

The locking member i! also provideslalocking portion52, shown vas theforward end of aitongue 531bent to extend upward at 5ft-and then`forward and downward at 55 to a rounded tip, for-ming the lockingportion52.' The tongue 53 and-locking portion 52 are of such shape,size, andiposition asito extend into a selected one of thefunlockingopenings 36 and engage the end bar 32` ofthe adjacent link member 30 tolimit or proventi its movement. Preferably, the locking portion 52 liesjust below the level of the attachment portion 5I When the latterengages the outer surface ofthe chute, the locking 'portion thus extendsinto theinterior` of the chute structure in the normal path ofmovement-of a link member.-

Usually, it suffices to utilzea locking member insertable when adjacenttransverse units are in closest-proximity or collapsed position." Inthis instance, illustrated in the drawings, the tongue 53 can be madecia width only slightly less than the uncoupling opening 36 and; withthe usual chute construction, will extend in contact with or very closeto the inner surface of the end bar 32 to substantially lock thestructure at 'this point against any movement. If the chute design issuch `that this inner surface of the end bar 32 more-than clears theopening 36,insertion of the locking member will preclude all but a smallamount of relative movement between the ad jacent units at this point.By the same token, if it isdesired to lock adjacent units when inexpanded position, the tongue 53 should be of a width to occupy thespace between -the outer surface of the end bar32' and the opposed sideof the opening 36.

An opening `5l can be formed in fthe attachment portion 5|, if desired,to aid inremovingthe locking member. Usually, however, the lock-` ingmember can be removed by inserting a screwdriver beneath the rear oflthetongue 53 and prying upward.

Usually, the desired limitation of motion between adjacent transverseunits Iiican be obtained by the exclusive use of the locking members 50in the openings'at the top and/orbottom of the chute, as suggested inFigs. 4 and 5 but, if desired, they can be used at the sides ofthechute, as suggested in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7.

With the modified form. of chute shown in Fig. 8. the transverse unitsare formed without a wire frame `but. with passage-outlining, sheetmetal, transverse or attachment members 60 bent to form reinforcementsfil.` Positioned at .the top and bottom positions, as previouslydescribed, are link members. 63 of a double type providing two openings64 closed by an end bar 65. Correspondingly, two hook members 56 areusedin the relationship shown in Fig. 8, these being respectivelyopposite two uncoupling openings B7. Anarticulated passage lining isprovided by guide members 68 having tongues iii)` slidably overlappingas between the diierent transverse units.

To lock selected sections of suchar chute, a

locking meinber'ii, shown in Fig.. 9,may be em.

ployed. This includes tongues l2 and 'i3 at opposite ends of achute-engaging portion, shown as comprising a bridge portion '14, Vthesetongues being of -a size to extend respectively'through the pairedun-coupling `openings 61 into `the path of. movementof `theend bar 65 to,lock-.theuchute the locus of motion of` this.` end bar.

6 atthis position ina manner previouslyrdescrbedi One end of this typeof locking member can, .as before, bei. considered as. an attachment`portion engageable with they chute .tosanchorz the; .othertongue-providing end` which serves th'e locking function. Preferably,however, thisvembodiment actually; `serves this 4function at each ofitsk ends.l This type of locking member iD can be inserted byplacing oneendin one .01". theuncoupling openings'A and bowing the. bridgeportion.; T4 slightly. with a. long-nosepliers .untilthe other endVenters the other..opening.` The .spring material of which the locking:member is4 formed will Vthen straighten and 1 lie substantially:` `fiatagainst-.the` surfacel otithe member 6E), spreading the tongues attheends and preventing. accidental withdrawal.` Removal can `be effectedbyiusef of a small screwdriver `forced .under the'` bridge `portion. i

Figs. 10, 11,`and 12 show an alternativefform of locking l,member forthe rst-describedich'ute construction. This alternative form of lockingmember diiifersinl its construction and in the fact that its locking`tongue extends longitudinally of the chute, rather than transversely`or peripherally of the chute passage, asin the formspreviouslydescribed. Fig. l0 shows two of these lock-` ing members 8i) vand 8|,respectively in positions preparatory to insertion to effect locking oftransverse units in collapsed or expanded position; also,- two lockingmembers 82 and 83 in `inserted position to lock the `transverseunitsinthese respective positions.- Y

Each of such locking members is substantially E-shapedand includes abridge portion 8551` and two end arms lforming the attachmentportion` ofthe locking members,` the central arm, shown at 31, comprising thetongue previously described. As before, this tongueis bent sothat itsend isV offset from the plane including the bridge portion 85 and theend arms 86 so th'at this tongue can be extended through anA uncouplingopening to` obstruct the movement ofthe end bar=32 of the link member3i) thereadjacent by extending into As before, the chute-engagingattachmentgportion'of the locking member is of such size as to bepressed snugly into i the shallow peripheral channel -28 in frictionalengagement with the walls 2Q thereof, the bridge portion 85 andtheendsfof the arms 86 engaging either the inwardly-converging walls at thebottom of the channel or, as is here preferred, extending beneath theinnermost endsAA of the bent tabs to extend into the small spacesbetween such ends and the outer surface ofthe attachment member. Ineither instance, the locking` member will be rigidly heldin placeagainst accidental removal untila screwdriver or other tool is used topry it from the shallow channel '28.

This alternative form,A of locking member is particularly `advantageouswhere it is to be used either tolock two transverse units in eithercollapsed orexpanded position. In the former instance, the lockingmember will be pressed into the shallow channel with the transverseunits collapsed and with the tongue or4 central arm 81 extending inthedirectionin whichthe link members 30 extend, see `the `locking membersBil and 82 of Fig. 10.l The tongue then engages the inner wall of theend bar 32. "If, used to lock two transverse units in expanded position,the units will be movedapart andthelocking memberwill` be .pressed intothe shallow channel. with its; tongue .orA central arm `.87 extending"in .an Splhpoff site; direction to engage the outervwallzonithe fendbar 32, se the locking members 8| and 83 of Fig. 10.

These relationships are also shown in Fig. 11, wherein four transverseunits 90, 9|, 92, and 93 are shown. Here, the locking members areindicated by the numerals 94, 95, and 96 and are shown as applied to thesides of the chute. The locking members 94 and 95 are inserted in amanner to lock the transverse units 99, 9|, and 92 in collapsedposition, while the locking member 95 is inserted oppositely to lock thetransverse units v92 and 93 in expanded position. Similarly, Fig. 12sh'ows the same transverse units and the same locking members, servingthe same respective functions but with the locking members applied tothe base or bottom of the chute.

`Various changes and modifications can be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a flexible feed chute, the combination of: a plurality oftransverse units disposed side by side to outline a member-guidingpassage; an interlinkage means for interconnecting said transverse unitsfor limited movement in a Idirecm tion toward and away from each other,and at ya plurality of positions around the periphery of said passage,Vsaid interlinkage means including a hook means on each transverse unit4and a link means on each transverse unit engageable with and movablerelative to said hook means of an adjacent transverse unit; and meansdetachably connected to one of two adjacent transverse units forrestricting relative movement between these adjacent transverse units inat least one peripheral position, said means including means extensibleinto the path of movement of said link means relative to said hook meansto impede such movement.

2. In a flexible feed chute, the combination of: a plurality oftransverse units disposed side by side to outline a member-guidingVpassage; an interlinkage means for interconnecting said transverse unitsfor limited movement in a direction toward and away from each other, andat a plurality of positions around the periphery of said passage, saidinterlinkage means including a hook means on each transverse unit and alink means on each transverse unit engageable with and movable relativeto said hook means of an adjacent transverse unit, there being anopening in each transverse unit adjacent andgiving access to said hoo-kmeans thereof; and means detachably connected to one of two adjacenttrans-v verse units for restricting relative movement between theseadjacent transverse units in at least one peripheral position, saidmeans includingr means extensible throughsaid opening into the path ofmovement of said link means relative to said hook means to impede suchmovement.

3. In combination with a transverse unit of a flexible feed chuteslidably receiving a link member of an adjacent unit, a locking memberincluding an attachment portion removably connecta'ble with saidtransverse unit and a locking portion extending into the path ofmovement of said link member when said attachment portion is connectedto said transverse unit.

4. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to atransverse unit of a flexible feed chute to rigidify a linkageconnecting same relative to an adjacent unit, said locking memberincluding an attachment portion detachably connectable with saidtransverse unit and a locking portion extending into rigidjfyinglrelationship with said linkage when said attachment portion' isconnected to said transf verse unit; i

5. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to atransverse unit of a flexible feed chute having a shallow wall-boundedperipheral channel to` rigidify a linkage movably connecting saidtransverse unit to an adjacent unit, said locking member having anattachment portion of 'a size to fit snugly in said shallow peripheralchannel in engagement with its bounding walls and said locking memberhaving a locking portion extending into rigidifying relationship Ywithsaid linkage when said attachment portion is in said shallow channel.

6. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to atransverse unit of a flexible feed chute interconnected with an adjacentunit by a link member of the adjacent unit and having an openingadjacent the path of movement of said link member, said locking memberhaving an attachment portion engageable with said transverse unit and atongue extending from said attachment portion and positioned to extendthrough said opening into the path of travel of said link member.

7. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for rigidifyingselected portions of a flexible feed chute, said locking memberproviding .a chute-engaging portion conforming in shape to a portion ofsaid feed chute and a tongue extending from one portion of saidchute-engaging portio-n and bent out of the plane of said chuteengagingportion, the forward end of said tongue forming a locking portion.

8. An article as defined in claim 7, in whic said tongue is integralwith said one portion of said chute-engaging portion and extends upwardtherefrom and then downward to said locking portion, said lockingportion lying just below the level of said chute-engaging portion.

9. An article as dened in claim '1, Vincluding another tongue extendingfrom an opposite portion of said chute-engaging portion in a directionopposite to said first-named tongue and bent out of the plane of saidchute-engaging portion to provide another locking portion.

10. An article as defined in claim 7, in which the locking member issubstantially E-shaped t-o provide a bridge portion and two end armscooperating in defining said chute-engaging por.-

tion, and a central arm comprisingsaid tongue. 11. As an article ofmanufacture, a locking member for a flexible feed chute, said chutecomprising a plurality of transverse units disposed side by side tooutline a member-guiding passage, adjacent transverse units beingexpansibly linked to each other by a link means extendingfrom oneadjacent unit to the other, the other adjacent unit having an openingadjacent which an element of the link means moves, said locking mem# berproviding a iirst portion adaptedto' `extend along the `surface of saidother adjacent unit and providing a second portion comprisinga tongueextensible through said opening to extend into the path of movement ofsaid element of said link mean-s to restrict such movement.

l2. An article of manufacture as Vdefined in claim ll in which saidelement of said link means includes front and rear portions, and inwhich said first and second portions of said locking member are shapedfor reversible disposition relative to said other transverse unit toextend said tongue selectively through said opening in two positions toengage selectively said front and rear portions of said element of saidlink means and lock the two adjacent transverse units selectively inextended or contracted position relative to each other.

13. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to atransverse unit of a ilexible feed chute comprising a plurality of suchtransverse units with linkages movably connecting each transverse unitto its adjacent transverse unit, said locking member being adapted torestrict relative movement of such adjacent transverse units and retainsame selectively in a collapsed position in which adjacent parts of saidadjacent transverse units are close together or in an expanded positionin which said adjacent parts are more widely spaced from each other,each transverse unit having a shallow channel bounded by side walls anda bottom wall, said bottom wall having an opening adjacent which one ofsaid linkages moves during relative movement between said adjacenttransverse unit-s, said locking member including an attachment portionof a size to t snugly in said shallow channel in engagement with saidside walls and including a locking portion extending through tend saidlocking portion through said opening to engage another portion of saidlinkage and prevent movement of said adjacent units to said collapsedposition.

ROBERT E, HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 Number Name Date 1,885,568 Twomley Nov. 1, 19321,906,288 Twomley May 2, 1933 2,307,389 Carter Jan. 5, 1943 2,378,652

Nobles et al June 19, 1945

